Labor Day Weekend Set to Be Third Busiest Holiday in the US for 2023
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Labor Day Weekend will be the third busiest holiday weekend of the year, behind Juneteenth weekend (which includes Father’s Day) and President’s Day weekend in February.
If you plan to travel by air today, then you dodged the busiest day in U.S. airspace – Thursday with 52,203 flights scheduled. The FFA said 49,111 flights are scheduled for Friday, and flights will pick up on Monday and Tuesday.
Pack our patience if you’re heading to the airport this weekend. It could take up to 30 minutes for passengers to get through TSA security, whereas passengers with PreCheck may take more than 10 minutes. Arrive two hours early to the airport even if you’re catching a domestic flight. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 14 million passengers from today through next Wednesday, up nearly 11% over the same weekend last year.
And it looks like the rate of canceled flights is down about 19% from last summer, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. Flight delays are more common this summer though.
And for vacationers hitting the road this year, you’ll probably notice that the gas prices are similar to last year. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has reported that the nationwide average price on Wednesday was $3.83 per gallon – a penny less than a year ago.
Before hitting the road, here are 10 Car Care Tips from AAA:
- Check the tire pressure of all tires – don’t forget to check the spare – if you have one!
- Check tire tread – Exchange.AAA.com offers a simple visual check using a penny or a quarter
- Check battery is in good working order (most batteries last 3-5 years)
- Check the air conditioning.
- Check windshield wipers to make sure they are in good working order.
- Check fluids.
- Check headlights for functionality and clean lenses.
- Make sure your cell phone is fully charged so you can call for help if needed.
- Make sure your AAA membership is up to date.
- Stock a Summer Emergency Kit with jumper cables, tools, first aid supplies, a flashlight with fresh batteries, road flare or reflective triangle, extra medications, snacks, water
AAA said bookings for domestic travel – flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises – are running 4% higher than Labor Day last year. The auto club said international bookings are up 44% now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, with the top destinations listed as Vancouver, Rome, London, Dublin, and Paris.
